The Colleges Whose Graduates Earn The Most Money

A survey by PayScale paints a picture of which school's bachelors degree students earn the most after college. (Shutterstock)

Aside from personal growth and enlightenment, many young people on the outgoing end of high school are interested in being admitted to a college that will allow them to put their best foot forward on a career path and let them make some real money—hopefully sooner than later.

Recently a report emerged that focuses on that very matter; part of a survey compiled by PayScale—a benefits and compensation information company. The company’s research includes profiles of 2.3 million graduates of more than 2,700 U.S. colleges and universities, including information regarding their wages in the years after graduation. It gives insight into which schools’ bachelor’s degree alumni make out the best in the salary department.

For a look at a list of the 10 colleges whose graduates earn the most money in the years following graduation, check our slideshow below, based on PayScale’s data on grads who obtained a bachelor’s degree only, without going on to earn higher degrees.

In putting together its 2017-2018 College Salary Report, PayScale listed only schools that had a minimum sample of 30 salary reports—for some schools, more than 20,000 were on file, largely depending on the size of the school, the organization says.

Topping the list for bachelors’ degree-only grads was Harvey Mudd College; a private, liberal arts school in Claremont, California, of about 800 students that’s especially known for its engineering and sciences programs. According to the numbers, graduates with zero to five years work experience after graduation were making a median salary of $81,000. Those with ten or more years of experience reported median salaries of $155,800—not a bad take. Of all of them, 58% reported that they felt that the work they do makes the world a better place.

In second place is Princeton University, a private Ivy League school in New Jersey of more than 5,200 students. According to PayScale’s salary reports, bachelors degree holders from Princeton, with up to five years of experience in the workforce, had a median annual income of $69,800. Those with more than ten years of experience earned $147,800.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology – or MIT – is third on PayScale’s roster. The private school, known for its focus on science and engineering, has a student body of some 11,000 students and more than 130,000 living alumni.

According to the salary report, those who hold bachelor’s degrees from the school, with up to five years of experience in the workplace, are making a median annual wage of $81,500, while those with more than ten years of experience reported $147,000.

Beyond The Bachelors

When PayScale included alumni who had gone on to receive higher degrees after earning their bachelors, the roster changed a bit.

In first place came Stanford University – which took 10th place among grads with only a bachelor’s degree from the school – whose alumni reported a median $77,200 annually with up to five years experience. Those with more than 10 years working were making $154,700. Also, 60% of those said their work made the world better.

In second place, Harvey Mudd, whose grads made a median $82,400 after five years, $153,400 after ten. And, in third place, the California Institute of Technology; whose alumni reported making a median annual wage of $82,000 after five years in the workforce and $152,400 after ten.